The Twice-in-a-Lifetime Trip About This Page:

[truenancy]

Yeah, yeah, we’ve all been there. We took our kids to Disney World last September when they were 5 & 7. Had a great time, yadda, yadda, yadda, ok moving on. There are so many great options in our country, educational and/or fun – who needs WDW every year?


Back up the truck. DH & I went to WDW on our honeymoon, then again pre-kids. We love that we wake up in the morning and yell “OK, Walt, entertain us!” So when we had kids we said, “OK, 4 & 6 would be the perfect age.” We held off for an extra year (partly because both of my kids love to nap), and booked for September ’08. I spent way too much time on these boards, read just about every book, found every secret and tip and trick. The trip was phenomenal – not too rushed, not too hot, not too crowded, and we saw a ton more than I thought we would. The kids were incredibly psyched, and well-behaved (we all know those two things don’t go hand-in-hand), and DH & I kept catching eachother’s eyes as if to say, “what’s going on here? This magic is incredible!”


Fast forward to Valentine’s Day 2009. We drop the kids off at church for a babysitting fundraiser the youth group is doing, and we head to a local haunt for dinner. We start discussing summer plans, and the idea of going to Storyland comes up. It’s a small amusement park for young kids up here in New England.

Me (innocently): “well, if we’re not going to Disney World, I think we should think about going to Storyland. But let’s keep in mind that it would still cost $500 by the time we stay in a hotel, eat for a couple days, get park passes, etc. so if we’re going to Disney, then we’ll definitely skip Storyland.”

DH (staring blankly):“um, we’re going to Disney?”

Me: “OK!”

DH: “No, I mean we’re going to Disney??? I thought last year was our once-in-a-lifetime trip?”

Me: “It might be worth investigating – free dining, different resort, check the airfares, maybe it’s possible!”

DH: “If you can do under $3000, go for it.”

Me: “Oh honey, you know I love a challenge.”

Fast-forward a couple months, and we’ve got airfare for $450 total for the 4 of us, free dining, $600 in points on our Disney Visas, $150 from AAA & Disney for booking during a AAA travel show, and the $500 I “saved” by not going to Storyland. Orlando, here we come!

The cast:

Me: Nancy, 40, work-at-home, volunteers for way too many things, spends most of my free time on Passporter

DH: 40, likes to tell people I’m dragging him back to Disney but is a total closet fan. He’s the one that picks WL, books a car service, rents a car… “Well, if we’re gonna do it, let’s do it right! “But honey, I had it under $3000.” “I just wanted to see if you could…” He mocks me for spending so much time on the boards, but peeks over my shoulder for long periods of time.

DD: Alison/Ally, 8, 3rd grade. Curious, happy, and reasonable – while still being a typical mercurial overly-dramatic 8-year-old girl. Big fan of Piglet, Robin Hood, and is “way too old for princesses or fairies.”

DS: Colin, 6, 1st grade. Easy-going, constantly-moving, really smart. Loves Cars, Mickey, and “big-guy stuff” that he hasn’t seen – PotC, Indy, etc.

After much hemming and hawing, we decided on an itinerary:

Wednesday, 9/23: Arrive at WL, go to Magic Kingdom
Counter service meal at resort or Magic Kingdom

Thursday, 9/24: Epcot, rest/swim, Magic Kingdom for parade & fireworks

Friday, 9/25: Epcot, rest/swim, Animal Kingdom for magic hours
Dinner at Boma

Saturday, 9/26: Magic Kingdom, rest/swim, then HS
Breakfast at Crystal Palace

Sunday, 9/27: Animal Kingdom, then to resort for pool, laundry, and relaxing (possibly Water Pageant)
Dinner at Whispering Canyon Café

Monday, 9/28: Hollywood Studios, rest/swim, then shopping at Downtown Disney
Lunch at Sci-Fi Dine-In
Dinner at T-Rex

Tuesday, 9/29: Breakfast at Chef Mickey’s, then wide open (probably Epcot) until the Luau for dinner

Wednesday, 9/30: Pool/Pack, open (probably MK) until departure

It was tough looking a gift horse in the mouth, but we don’t really care about food, and wouldn’t be doing any Table Service meals if it we weren’t on the Dining Plan. If we’re hungry we eat, but we’re not picky and don’t like to be tied down to ADRs. I'm fine eating Mickey Bars & Dole Whips & ice cream-cookie sandwiches from the Main Street Bakery all week. But again, I’m not saying “no” to Free Dining! And it gave us a starting point when planning our week.

So we’re pretty much all packed. The teachers are cool with it – the real schoolwork hasn’t started (DS6 hasn’t even had homework yet), and we’re all just counting the hours. The kids have been earning spending money since we booked in March, and are now up to $60 each. Alison has baby Mickey & baby Minnie, and I know she’s been thinking about Baby Simba all year. Who knows what Colin will get – he’ll probably blow all his money on Pokemon cards in Japan. I’m not a big souvenir person, so I’m curious to see what I’ll find that I can’t live without.

I’ll really try to write a TR (don’t expect pictures of food!) when we get back. This should be our last trip for a while – but ya never know! Maybe three time's a charm...

[Maf Gagnon]

Have a magical trip!

[tootogether]

Can't wait to hear alllll about it! Have a great time and don't keep us waiting too long after you get back.

[Cam22]

Great PTR! Have a magical time!

[bsblady01]

I hope that you and your family have a magical time at the world

[Tigger71]

Have a wonderful trip!

[DawnK]

Have a super trip! I'm glad you picked Disney over Storyland!!!

[mcc0313]

Have a magical trip and those Baby Simba's are just the cutest

[ilovedisney247]

Hope you are having fun!

[chezp]

What great plans - have a magical time!

[Colexis Mom]

Great start and plans Nancy! I hope you have a magical time!

[vfair]

Have a magical time!

[NanaTink]

Have a great time! Look forward to hearing all about it when you get back!

[truenancy]

Thanks everyone! DH & I just finished packing (he's "working from home" today), and we're just waiting for the kids to get home from school so we can practice walking - to the farm stand that sells ice cream. The car service comes in 16 hours!

[KMB733]

Looks like you've got a great trip planned. Have a Magical time